HTC launches the Desire 10, an attractive mid-range phone

HTC has today announced two new mid-range smartphones that may not set any new hardware records, but, in typical HTC fashion, do pack quite attractive designs for the product segment.

The phones are known as the Desire 10 Pro and Desire 10 Lifestyle, which look similar on the outside, but differ on key aspects of the hardware. The Desire 10 Pro is the higher-end model, which features a 5.5-inch 1080p display and a 20-megapixel rear camera, while the Desire 10 Lifestyle suits budget users with a 5.5-inch 720p screen and a 13-megapixel shooter.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect to the Desire 10 line is the choice of SoC. The Desire 10 Lifestyle is seriously lacking in power, with HTC bizarrely opting for an outdated Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC. The Desire 10 Pro is more powerful, thanks to the use of a MediaTek Helio P10, however it too will struggle to keep up with other mid-range phones in its price bracket.

Aside from the SoC, the hardware found in the Desire 10 Pro is fair respectable. There's up to 4 GB of RAM, up to 64 GB of storage with microSD expansion, a 13-megapixel front camera, a fingerprint sensor, Category 6 LTE support, and a 3,000 mAh battery. The Desire 10 Lifestyle includes up to 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of expandable storage, plus Category 4 LTE and a 2,700 mAh battery.

The Desire 10 Lifestyle will be the first to go on sale, hitting store shelves on September 20 priced at £249 (around US$270 before tax). The Desire 10 Pro is slated for an October launch at an undisclosed, but presumably more expensive price point.